Heavy metal lost its “Prince of Darkness” when Ozzy Osbourne died earlier this week at the age of 76.
From Black Sabbath’s thunder to late‑career Grammys, here are ten tracks that trace the arc of Ozzy’s one-of-a-kind career in music.
Paranoid
On Aug. 7, 1970, Black Sabbath rushed out the single “Paranoid” to pad their second album and accidentally forged a three‑minute heavy‑metal anthem. Its nervous, cycling riff and Ozzy’s hypnotic vocal reached No. 4 in the UK, proving metal could crack pop charts and giving Sabbath their signature encore for the next 55 years.
Iron Man
Recorded in 1970 for the Paranoid LP, “Iron Man” opens with Tony Lommi’s lumbering guitar figure and Ozzy’s robotic snarl. The track’s dystopian tale became a rite‑of‑passage riff for young guitarists and earned a Grammy Hall-of-Fame nod, cementing Ozzy as metal’s ultimate storyteller.
War Pigs
Released on Sept. 18, 1970, “War Pigs” turned Sabbath into counter‑culture prophets. Ozzy’s apocalyptic cry over Geezer Butler’s anti‑war lyrics gave metal its conscience and became a festival chant for generations of protesters and mosh‑pits alike.
Crazy Train
On Sept. 20, 1980, Ozzy launched his solo career with “Crazy Train.” Randy Rhoads’ squealing harmonics and a surprisingly optimistic refrain (“Maybe it’s not too late…”) turned a Cold‑War anxiety song into a stadium sing‑along. Today it’s a sports‑arena staple and the most‑streamed classic‑metal track of the 1980s.
Mr. Crowley
Released that same fall (Sept. 1980) on Blizzard of Ozz, “Mr. Crowley” showcased Ozzy’s gothic theatricality, opening with cathedral organ before launching into Rhoads’ baroque solo. The ode to occultist Aleister Crowley became a jukebox favorite in goth bars and a benchmark for neoclassical shred.
Bark at the Moon
Unleashed on Nov. 14, 1983, the title cut of Ozzy’s third solo LP proved he could thrive after Rhoads’ death. With Jake E. Lee’s flash guitar and a horror‑movie video ready for constant MTV rotation, the track pushed the album platinum and kept Ozzy at the vanguard of ’80s pop‑metal.
No More Tears
Dropped on Sept. 17, 1991, the seven‑minute “No More Tears” paired Zakk Wylde’s pinch‑harmonic riffing with prog‑rock dynamics and earned heavy MTV rotation. The quadruple‑platinum album of the same name relaunched Ozzy into arenas worldwide and proved that grunge’s rise couldn’t dim his allure.
Mama, I’m Coming Home
Issued on Nov. 18, 1991, this power ballad revealed Ozzy’s tender side, a song penned with Lemmy and Zakk Wylde as a love letter to wife Sharon. Peaking at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, it remains his only solo Top 40 pop hit.
I Don’t Wanna Stop
Released on April 17, 2007, the first single from Black Rain blasted onto WWE pay‑per‑view and kept Ozzy on radio playlists beside younger metal acts. The song’s message—“I don’t wanna stop”—stood as a mission statement during his Parkinson’s battle and 2020s comeback shows.
Patient Number 9
On September 9, 2022, Ozzy teamed with producer Andrew Watt and guitar legend Jeff Beck for this haunting title track. The album went on to win Best Rock Album at the 2023 Grammys, proving the Prince of Darkness could still out‑riff artists half his age three years before his farewell performance.
